Bottle-centering device for bottle-filling machines.



J. H. CHAMP.

BOTTLE OENTEBING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 19 06.

Patenfoed Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

arzzex JzzzrEnf/Jr. 59041 46 14 J. H. GHAMP. BOTTLE CENTERING DEVICE FORBOTTLE FILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1906.

909,868. Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 sums-sum 2.

.[22 zrezzzar.

JOSEPH n. oniiiir. or cilsvmaun, OHIQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

BOTTLE-CENTEBlING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE-IFIIZLING MACHHIES.

Patented Jan. 11), 1909.

- Application filed. October as, me. serial No; cease-"z.

To all whom it may concern:

,ing machines, particularly to machines intended for the automaticfilling 'of bottles with beer-or like liquids under pressure' Inapproved machines of this sort there is generall provided a bottlefilling member including a suitable mouth piece and -discharge tubeagainst which the bottle is designed to be raised and hcldpcnding thefilling operation. Inasmuch as the automatic operat on of the machineincludes, among other things, the raising of the bottle into pos tionwith respect to such mouthpiece and dischar e tube, it is quiteessential that such bottle e accurately centered in order that itsregistry with the mouth piece and discharge tube may be'correct.' v

' Thismvention, then, has regard more particularly still to meansadapted to effect such last noted essential result.

Said invention consists of the means hereinait'er described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and theftollowing description set forth in detailcertain mech-.

anism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but oneof various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention maybe used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure 1 1s a front perspective view of somuch of an approved type ot'bottlefilling machine as is represents thesame parts as shown in Fig. l

in the position assumed by. them at a diffcrent stage in theiroperation; Fig. 3 1s a side elevation of such parts in the positioncorresponding to that shown in Fig. 2, such parts, however, beingarranged to accommodate bottles of a chiierent size; Fig. 4:

shown in Fig. 3, butin a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. l,and viewed in the opposite direction from that in which they appear insaid Fig. 3; and llig. 5 1s a transverse cross sectionot a structuraldetail -entering'into ny invention.

As has been indicated, I have chosen tor the purpose of illustratingthey-manner of operation of my bottle centering dev ce one form ofbottle filling machine. I do not mean, however, by this to imply thatsuch device is limited in its application to this single form ofmachine; on the contrary, as will be readily apparent from the followingdescription, such device is adapted in general to be used with machinescharacterized by having a fillin g member to which the bottle ismechanically approachech As has been further stated, only such parts ofthe machine in question are here illustrated are directly concerned withthe operation of present interest. 'Talnng up, then, the considerationof these parts, it 'Wlll be noted first of all, from an inspection ofthe several figures, that they comprise two relatively fixed members, anarm A leading from the beer tank or other source of so )pl'y and a.horizontal hearing her A, whereby the other parts of the mechanism aresupported as will appear. The central structure or ma chine frame, fromwhich such arm and bar project, is omitted for the reasons already setforth and it is furthermore immaterial Whether or not such structure hasa movement of its own, as for example one of rotation about a structurehere illustrated is supposed to have such movement but while certainoperations of thefilling mechanism are functional with.

respect tot is movement, the latter has no direct operative connectionwith the bottle centering device.

Arm A, of which the outer portion a: alone appears, is provided withappropriate fluid- 'ays leading from the central supply chamber forconducting the beer therefrom to the bottle filling member C, as also asuitable actuating fluid, as compressed air, from a chamber associatedwith the central .becr tank to such member and to certain reception of aplug halve B whereby communication may be controlled between the '1s abroken side elevation of the same parts i respective fluid-ways in arm Aand bottle pivotal axis. The particular' other parts of the mechanism.The details. of the construction whereby communication filling member ormouth piece C, and such is thus controlled have been omitted as beingimmaterial so far as the operation of my centering device is-concerned.Actuation of valve plug ii is ell'ected by the rocking of a trippingdevicel) fastened toits outer end and so designed that such valve andits said tripping device must necessarily turn to gether in allhorizontal rocking movements about the longitudinal axisuof the valve.Actuation of tripping device D is designed to be automatically elfectedat proper times in the particular machine here represented by engagementof its respective arms (5 d l with suitable stops disposed in its pathof piston E movement as the machine. frame rotates. Since usually inmachines of the character here shown, the bottle supporting memberplemental mouth piece C is fitted directly upon mouth piece 0, beingretained'in place by means ot'outwardly projecting spring clamps c whichembrace the side wall of said upper mouth piece 0 and maintain saidlower mouth piece fitted in close connection with said upper mouthpiece. Such upper mouth piece (3 is provided with depending dischargetube 0" that is designed, when the supplemental mouth piece Cisemployed, to project-through a suitable aperture therein, such lowermouth piece being provided 'with a short depending tube 0 that inclosestube 0 and is formed with lateral openings whereby communication may behad with the interior of the respective mouth pieces and thence withcertain of the fluid-ways in arm A, in addition to the connectionafforded'through tube 0' which is designed to convey from the supplytank the beer wherewith'the bottles are to be tilled.

Supported between fluid-way arm A and horizontal bearing bar A, andextending a short distance below the latter, are two verticallydisposed, axially alined cylinders E E in which is reciprocably mountedthe Rec'i rocation of piston E is automatically efl iicted, at, desiredintervals by the introduction on theproper siiles'of the iston head ofthe actuating fluid-to whic reference has alreadybeen made, in-

' troduction of such fluid being controlled by the same valve B thatcontrols the admission or the beer to the bottles. (in the ceases lowerend of piston E is adjustably mounted a'braclret e, and in a sleeve e onthe outer end of this bracket is adjustably mounted thestem F of thebottle rest F on which a bottle is designed to beplaced pending thefilling operation.

Such bottle rest F is preferably formed on stem F so that its uppersurface will heat another than a right angle to such stemin order toassist n placing 1n proper position thereon bottles having unevenbottoms.

To bottle from sliding ofi the rest, the latter is prevent the formedwith an up-turned peripheral flange f partially 'inclosing itsupperface. In addition to this flange on its upper side the rest has itsunder side provided with two depending lips f respectively located freefrom and to opposite sides of stem F, in the line of horizontal travelof bar A such lips having a horizontal space between them e ual to thewidth of horizontal bar A, and

ac apted to have lateral bearing respectively. against the front andrear edges of said bar.

The operation of the mechanism thusfar described should be readilyapparent. The

bottle is placed upon rest F' when in its lower position correspondingwith the ex: tended position. of piston E that is shown in l ands. Byrotating the bottle it can be caused to assume an'approximately verticalposition upon such .rest, even" though its bottom be uneven, by virtueof the dBStZl'lllQCl construction to such rest.

The rest is designed to be thereupon ver-'- tically raised until themouth of the bottle I is pressed tightly against mouth piece 43 or. 1,depending on the. sizeof the bottle bein filled. This movement of therest is e tected by introduction of the compressed fiuid used to actuatea piston E into the properchainber 1n cylinders E E, such 1ntroductionbeing controlled, :as before stated,

by valve plugz'B. The rest F, upon thebottle-being 1-llled, isv againlowered to its original position whereupon. suchfilled bot-.

tle is replaced by an'e'mpty one and the o oration repeated, 3

inasmuch as the operations described,

the bottle as placed on bottle rest F be com tered so as to properlyengage depending discharge tube '0 and mouth piece C or. C'f v lt hasheretofore. been soughtto accomplish this-result by providing a restfor'theheck: of the bottle in connectionwith such rest This methodhowever, has been found including the action of valve plug B are..-

ientirely automatic, it is quite-essential that 115,

objectionable since the bottles even when of the same size are-a t to beof a'more or'less irregular form an s nce further, by vmtue verticalposition on t e rest' their mouths 1-125 of the very means em loyed, tosecure their are apt to be displaced out of proper ati'ae-..

ment with dependinqtube c". It is to"cor-" rect these severaldiihculties that 'thlemech horizontal bearin when thus obliquely digag'ethe neckofa bottle c eanse which shall now proceed to describe hasbeen devlsed.

Intermedlately of fluid-way arm A and bar A, is pivotall mounted withrespect to the frame, of whic 1 such arm and bar are component parts, alever arm H. Specifically I thus attach such armto another arm H that issecurely but adjustably. clamped to upper piston 15 by means of atlampcollar it. The longer,

forwardly promoting, portion of lever B is formed Wit a guide-platehaving a concave face disposed 1n one position'of sa d arm to lieobliquely across the path of travel of bot- .tle rest F. The upper endof such guideplate 'H when thus forwardly inclined extends into closeproximity with the lower end of depending discharge tube 0" and is infact formed with a deep notch it within which such tubeend is designedto lie soosed, Figs. 1 and 4.111 this position guide-plate E willenborne on bottlercst G irrespective of any possible variation in itslocation in such restor of any unusual inclination from thenormalvertical position that it mayassume; and by virtue of the conformationof its concave surface it will direct the mouth of such bottle withoutfail into engagement with the lower end of discharge tube 0. The pivotalaxis of arm H, whereby such guide-plate H is home, is

' located laterally of the path of travel of the bottle andso disposedthat the engagement of the body of the bottle, and later on or the restF upon which said bottle stands, with the guic c-plate in question willdeflect said late entirely out of the path of such rest. his is theposition that it is shown as occupying in Figs. 2 and 3. The mounting ofarm H is designed, in addition to permitting the movement justdescribed, to frictionally retain such arm in whatever position it maybe placed. The detail in Fig. 5, illustrates one approved means forsecuring this result. As there apears the arm is mounted upon a 'bossit, eing secured thereon by means of a set screw it and washer h; a.helical spring 71 interposed between the arm and the head of such setscrew by appropriate adjustment of set screw it is adapted to producethe proper degree of pressure between the bearing face nular formationas shown, surfaceof arm H.

sumedby it upon being thrust aside by bottle rest F as the'lattcr movesupwardly, not

only duringits positive retention thereby the latter while in its upperposition but also ending the return of the rest to its normal ower posiion. i lowever, I provide means for'returnlng guide-plate H into itsforwerdly projecting activeposition, upon the type'here chosen for lit;

tle rest F in order that the plate may engage and properly guide thenext bottle when the rest is again raised. The means, whereby suchpositioning of the guide-plate is effected comprise a rocker H looselyrestin I on the upper t'acoof bearing bar Aand he (1 against dislaccmcnt therefrom by means of downwar ly extending lips it which engagethe lateral edges of the bar much as do those f of bottle rest F. Suchrocker is formed on its under side with two flat longitudinally disposediaces inclined to each other at a suitable angle, and is operativelyconnected with guide-platebearing lever H by means of a member ofadjustable length comprising a sleeve 11 that loosely rests in adepression in thcrcar end of such rocker, and a rod 7: udjustably heldin such sleeve at its lower end by means of a set screw, and

having itsupperend slidably held in a sleeve 72.? in the extreme end offixed arm H and thereabove pivotally attached to the rear and shorterarm of lever H. The forward end of rocker l ll'cxtends into the pathofbottle rest F and isadapted tobe engaged and depresscd(thereby as thelatter resumes itsnormal lower position, thus raising the rear end ofthe rocker and actuating lever H to actively position guide-plate H asabove described. The raising of the rest with a bottle thereon, bydeflecting the plate ll, depresses in turn the rear end of rocker lil aswill be evident, in which position the parts in question remain owing tothe friction produced at the bearing of lever- H by spring 1 2 Byappropriately, forming the concave completion of such return movement ofbotlure of guide-plateI-l it will be evident that my bottle centeringdevice may be adapted to handle bottles of any conformation, or size,that the bottle filling machine is otherwise capable of handling. Themeans entering into the construction of such bottle centering or guidingdevice, are not limited in their connection with bottle fillingmechanism to mechanism of the particular the purpose of illustration,but may be employed with equal facil ity and like satisfactory resultsin any bottle filling machine in which the bottles are brought intoregister with the filling member, irrespective of the manner in whichthe filling is actually accomplished or of the manner in which-theregistering of the bottlc 1S efi'cclcd. They. can also, as will bereadily apparent, be adapted 'to handle vcs-' other than bottles, wheresuch vessels are of a similar character and require to be approached toan operating, mechanism more or le s strictly inalincmcnttherewith. Ac.-cordingly, wherever the term bottle :1 pears in the foregoingdescription 'orthe-tollowing claims, including any suitable vessel. Andas has the same should be understood as following-whims or theequivalent of such stated'means, be employed;

I would therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1.. The combination with a bottle-filling 1'5 membery'of amovable guide-member 'adaptedin one position to engage a bottle andcenter the same with respect to said ,fillin -member and in anotherposition to lie-without thepath of movement of such '20'bottle; andmeans adapted to retain said uide-member in whatever position it may eplaced. f y,

' 2. The combination with a bottle-filling 'm ember and" a movable.bottle support adapted to approach a bottle thereto of a (movable guidemember adapted in one position to engage a bottle upon. said supportincidentally to the movement of the latter,

. so'as to direct the mouth of such bottleinto register with saidfilling-member, and in another position to lie without the path ofmovement of such bottle, and meansadapted I frictiqnallyto hold'saidguide member whatever position it may be placed.

3. The combination With a bottle-filling member and a movable bottlesupport adapted to approach a bottle thereto; of a movable guide membernormally frictionally held in position to engage a bottle upon said 40support incidentally to its movement by the latter, said guide memberbeing adapted to direct the mouth of such bottle into register .withsaid filling member and to be itself defiected-by said support.

4. The combination with a bottle-filling member and a movable bottlesupport,

adapted t'o approach a "bottle thereto; a -movabl e late pivotallymounted -laterally of the pat of movement of said support and having aconcave'defiecting face, said plate being adapted in one position .topresent such-face obliquely to abottle on said bottle support pendingthe movement of the latter,

so' as to direct-the mouth'of such bottle into register with. saidfilling another position to lie without the path. of

" movement of such bottle and said support. 5 ..The combination with abottle-filling member and a movable bottle support adapted-to approach.a bottle thereto; of .a movable f,plate pivotally mounted laterally IQofthe path of movement of said support face, said.

and having a concave deflectin plate bein normally frictions, ly held to689' present sue .faceobliquely to a bottle on member and in by.movement of said support.

said bottle support pending the movement of the latter, so as to direct.the mouthof such bottle into register with said filling member, andbeing movable from such posi- Igiotrtil by. engagement with the body or"such 6. The combination with a mouth piece provided with a dependingdischarge tube, 5 and a vertically reeiproc'able bottle support adaptedto approach a bottle to said mouth piece; of a plate pivotally mountedlaterally of the path of movement of said support and having a concavedeflectin face, said? plate being normally trictiona ly held to presentsuch face obliquely to a bottle on said bottle support pending theupward movement of the1atter,. so as to direct the mouth of such bottleinto register with said discharge tube and being movable'fromf suchposition by engagement with the body of such bottle.

' 7. The combination with .a mouth piece provided Wltll tt dependingdischarge tube,. a v

and a vertically reciprocablebottie support adapted to approach a bottleto said mouth iece; of an oscillatorily mounted plate havmg a concavedeflecting face notched at'its upper end, said plate being adapted inone position to present such face obliquely to a bottle onsaid bottlesupport pending the upward movement of the latter and to re ceive saiddepending discharge tube in its upper notched end, Wherebythe mouth ofsuch bottle is directed into register with said discharge tube, andbeing'adapt'ed in another position to lie withoutthe path of,

movement of such bottle and said support.

8. The combination with relatively movable bottle-filling" and suporting means; of

movable, frictionallyg liel bottle-guiding means connected to epositively positioned by such relative movement of the bottlefilling andsupporting means.

9. Thecombmation with'a movable bottle support, of movable, frictionallyheld bottleguiding means adapted to be positively positioned by saidsupport.

10. The combination with a movable bottle support, of movablebottleguiding means, means for positioning said bottle-guiding means,said positioning means being opjeratively engaged by said support duringa part only of the latters .movement, and

means forfrictionally retaining said bottle:

guiding means in whatever positioIi-.-jtliey,

may be placed. 1

e combination with a'bottle-filling member and zit-movable bottle supp tadapt: r

her, of means adapted in one position to engage the bottle incident llyto the movement of said support and to enter the samewith 'respecttosaidfilling member, the position-- ing of said means being positivelyefi'ected ed to approach a bottle to said filling mem- 7 ceases 12. Thecombination with a mouth piece provided with a de ending discharge tube,and vertically reciprocable bottle support adapted to approach a bottleto said mouth piece; of a movable guide member normally frictionallyheld-in position to engage a bottle upon said support pending the upwardmovement of the latter, said guide member beinq adapted to direct themouth of such bottle to be positively actuated by said support upon thedownward movement thereof, to

return saidguide member to its normal position. I

'13. The combination with a mouth-piece provided with a dependingdischarge tube, and a vertically reciprocable bottle support adapted "toapproach a bottle to said mouthpiece; of a movable guide member normallyfrictionally held. in position to engage a bottle upon said supportpending the upward movement' of the latter, said guide member beingadapted to direct the mouthof said bottle into register with saiddistube and to be thereupon deflected by id bottle support; and meansadapted to positively actuated-by said suoport; as the latter approachesits lower unit of movement, to return said guide member to its normalposition.

1d. The combination with a bottle filling member and a movable bottlesupport adapted to approach a bottle to said filling memher; of anoscillatorily mounted guide plate adapted in one position to lieobliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflectedfrom such path thereby; and means adapted to be actuated by said supportto return said plate to its first position.-

15. The combination with a bottle filling member and a movable bottlesupport adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of anoscillatorily mounted guide plate having a concave face disposed in oneposition of said plate to lie obliquely across the path of travel ofsaid support and to be deflected from such path thereb and means ada. beaetuated'by said support upon r d morev enttheieor' to return sit- Klplate toi. l

The comlnn non member and a movable h a bottle filling Jottlc supportadapted. to approach a. bottle to said filling mem her; or" movableguide member adapted position to direct the mouth of a by said supportwith respect to '1 ling member and thereupon to be m such. position bythe body 01 "aide member being adaptwhatever position it may zedcombination with a bottle filling; and a movable bottle support intoregister with said charge tube and to be thereupon deflected by saidbottle support; and means adapted adapted to approach a bottle to saidfilling member; of amo'vable guide member ada ted in one position todirect the mouth ot a bottle borne by said supportwith respect to saidfilling member to be deflected from such position by the body of suchbottle, said guide member being frictionally held in whatever positionit may be placed.

18. The'combination with a bottle filling member and a inovable bottlesu )port adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of amovable guide member adapted to direct a bottle borne by said support-member into its inoperative position.

19. The combination witha bottle-filling member and a movable bottlesupport adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of amovable guide member adapted to direct a bottle borne by said supportwvith respect to said filling member, said guide member being adapted toremain in Whatever position it may be placed; and means adapted to bepositively actuated by said support, as the latter approaches its lowerlimit of movement, to position' said guide member, said support beingadapted upon its reverse movement to deflect said nlmber into itsinoperative position.

20. The combination with a bottle filling member and a movable bottlesupport adapted to approach a. bottle thereto; of a movable guide memberadapted to direct a bottle.

borne by said support with respect to said tiona ly holding said guidemember in whatever position'it may be placed.

21. The combination with a suitable frame; of a relatively fixed bottlefilling "fillin member; and adjustable means fricmember; a movablebottle su port ada ted to approach a bottle to said ii ling mem er; anarm pivotally attached to sa d frame and having an annular bearingsurface at the point of such pivotal attachment; means resilientlypressing said surface against the opposed surface in said frame; and aguide plate borne by said arm and adaptedin one position of the latterto lie obliquely across the path of travel of said support and to bedeflected from. such path thereby.

22. The combination with a suitable frame; of a relatively fixed bottlefillim member; a movable bottlesupport adapts to approach a bottle tosaid fill ng member; an arm pivotally attached to said frame and adaptedto be retained in whatever position it may be placed; a uide plate borneby said-arm and adapted in the normal position of the latter to lieobliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflectedfrom such ath thereby; and a rocker mounted in said rame and operativelyconnected with said arm, said rocker being positioned to be engaged andactuated by said support upon its return movement.

23. The combination With a suitable frame; of a relatively fixed mouthpiece, provided with a depending discharge tube; a verticallyr'eciprocable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said mouthpiece; an arm pivotally attached to said frame and adapted to befrictionally held in Whatever position it may be placed; a

guide plate borne by said arm and adapted eoaaee in the normal positionof the latter to lie obliquely across the path of travel of said supportand to be deflected from such path thereby; a rocker mounted in saidframe; and adjustable means connecting said rocker with said arm torestore the latter to its normal positif i, said rocker being positionedto be engaged and actuated by said support upon its returnmovement.

Signed by me, this 23rd day of Uctober, 1906.

JOSEPH H. CHAMP.

Attested by- D T. DAVIES, 5N0. F. Garment.

